Loudwire - Ola Englund (The Haunted) Plays His Favorite Riffs
Ola England shares his journey of learning guitar, initially driven by peer pressure rather than a specific song. He started playing because his classmates did, and he didn't want to miss out socially. His early influences included Nirvana, whose simple chords made it accessible for beginners. Ola took guitar lessons in Stockholm, where he learned classic riffs like 'Smoke on the Water,' but his interest was more in grunge bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden. He struggled with techniques like pinch harmonics, which he eventually mastered through practice and experimentation. Ola emphasizes the importance of learning by playing songs from bands like Pantera, which helped him progress as a guitarist. He discusses his evolution as a musician, from learning riffs to writing his own music with bands like The Haunted. Ola also reflects on the challenges of maintaining guitar skills while managing a YouTube channel and other music industry responsibilities. Despite these challenges, he continues to perform and create music, highlighting the importance of live performances in keeping his skills sharp.
Key Points:
- Peer pressure initially motivated Ola to start playing guitar.
- Nirvana's simple chords were accessible for beginners and influenced his early playing.
- Learning classic riffs like 'Smoke on the Water' helped build foundational skills.
- Mastering techniques like pinch harmonics was crucial for playing Pantera songs.
- Balancing YouTube and music career challenges Ola to maintain his guitar skills.
Details:
1. 🎸 Discovering Guitar Through Peer Pressure
- The speaker started playing guitar at the age of 12-13, influenced by peer pressure as many classmates were taking up the instrument.
- Nirvana played a significant role in the speaker's guitar learning journey, as their songs could be performed using basic chords.
- The learning process involved borrowing a brother's guitar and practicing repeatedly, despite initially playing slower and with less distortion.
- The speaker faced challenges in learning but was motivated by the desire to keep up with peers and the passion for music inspired by bands like Nirvana.
2. 🎵 First Guitar Lessons and Early Influences
- The individual began learning guitar with formal lessons in Stockholm, Sweden, focusing initially on classic rock tracks like 'Smoke on the Water', which are considered cliche but foundational.
- Despite the teacher's focus on classic rock, the individual's personal music interests leaned towards grunge bands such as Soundgarden, Nirvana, and Mudhoney.
- The divergence between taught material and personal interest led the individual to self-teach using tab books, particularly focusing on Nirvana's songs, which aligned more closely with their musical preferences.
3. 🔍 Overcoming Technical Challenges in Guitar Playing
- Transitioning from bands like Nirvana to learning complex techniques from Pantera highlights growth in technical skills, particularly focusing on pinch harmonics.
- A breakthrough in pinch harmonics came accidentally, emphasizing the importance of trial and error and self-discovery in mastering guitar techniques.
- Pinch harmonics are pivotal in defining advanced guitar playing, described as a technique that 'separates the boys from the men.'
- Learning new riffs from Pantera songs led to noticeable progress, illustrating the significance of practice and learning from existing music.
- Joining bands like 6 Feet Under and The Haunted required adapting to new styles, showcasing the importance of versatility in enhancing skills.
- Playing songs with intricate, fast riffs has been crucial in advancing guitar skills, demonstrating the value of challenging oneself with diverse musical styles.
4. 🎶 Evolving as a Guitarist Through Bands and Riffs
4.1. Learning and Mastering Riffs
4.2. Influence of Dimebag
4.3. Transition to Lead Guitar in The Haunted
4.4. Songwriting and Style Development
5. 🎼 Favorite Riffs and Musical Inspirations
- The main riff for '99' is highlighted for its simplicity and energy, emphasizing the importance of creating impactful music through straightforward yet powerful elements.
- The riff from 'Trespass' is celebrated for its live performance energy and unique incorporation of Gothenburg death metal vibes, showcasing the value of genre blending.
- Feared's 'Follow Man' is noted for its intricate and technical riff, underscoring the significance of musical complexity and skill in composition.
- To maintain inspiration and variety, the speaker alternates between standard D and drop tuning, highlighting the importance of tuning variation in sustaining creativity.
- Influences from bands like Pantera, Testament, and Nevermore are pivotal, with 'This Love' by Pantera and 'DNR' by Testament serving as key examples of impactful riffs.
- Jeff Loomis of Nevermore is recognized for his exceptional riff writing skills, despite being primarily known for his lead guitar work, illustrating the dual importance of rhythm and lead guitar.
- To ensure versatility, the speaker avoids relying solely on low-tuned riffs, demonstrating a strategic approach to riff creation that values adaptability across different musical contexts.
6. 📹 Balancing YouTube Career and Guitar Playing
- The speaker has been doing YouTube for over 15 years, and since 2012 it has been their main full-time job.
- Despite running a guitar-driven YouTube channel, the speaker finds they play guitar less than expected, primarily focusing on remembering riffs for demos.
- The majority of their time is spent on tasks like editing and filming, with actual guitar playing being limited to what's shown in videos.
- To maintain playing skills, the speaker highlights the importance of performing live with bands, tours, and festivals.
- There's a need to juggle multiple income streams in the music industry, which impacts the time available for guitar practice.
- The speaker expresses a desire to practice more and is actively working to improve this balance.
7. 🎤 Future Plans and Projects
- The Haunted's new album is scheduled for release in May, potentially featuring collaborations and new themes.
- Ola is developing his third solo album, exploring new genres and personal inspirations.
- The Haunted is set to perform at multiple festivals this summer, including [specific festivals if available], enhancing their reach.
- Ola plans to book solo tours under his own name, aiming to expand his personal brand and audience.
- Promotion of Ola Englund's channel is essential for updates, fan engagement, and leveraging social media for broader outreach.